WesMin Lab Summit 2026
Connecting laboratory professionals to exchange meaningful insights and work together toward stronger standards and greater excellence in laboratory practice.
About the Event
Where Laboratory Professionals Unite
One Quality. One Standard. One WesMin.
A two-day gathering dedicated to connecting laboratory professionals across Western Mindanao, exchanging practical insights, and advancing excellence in diagnostic healthcare.
Held on October 1–2, 2026 at the Royce Convention Hall, Grand Astoria Hotel in Zamboanga City, this summit features keynote addresses, specialized technical lectures, and interactive discussions designed to elevate clinical practice.
Whether you are a medical technologist, pathologist, laboratory director, or healthcare partner, join us in shaping a unified future for laboratory medicine in our region.
One Quality
Advancing scientific rigor, diagnostic accuracy, and total quality management across all laboratory disciplines.
One Standard
Harmonizing clinical laboratory protocols, specimen transport, and DOH regulatory compliance.
One WesMin
Uniting medical technologists, pathologists, and laboratory leaders across Western Mindanao.
CPD Credit Units
Earn approved CPD units (12 units for Medical Technologists, 7 units for Medical Doctors) through accredited sessions.
Earn Approved CPD Credit Units
The 1st Western Mindanao Laboratory Summit and Convention is officially accredited for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Delegates earn accredited units applicable toward PRC license renewal while learning from renowned leaders in laboratory medicine.
October 1–2, 2026 • Royce Convention Hall, Grand Astoria Hotel, Zamboanga City
Leadership Messages
Healthcare Leaders
Inspiring words of unity, dedication, and excellence from the healthcare and laboratory leaders shaping the Western Mindanao Laboratory Summit 2026.
Dr. Jeffrey S. So, FPSP
Philippine Society of Pathologists (PSP)
“For the Philippine Society of Pathologists, one standard does not mean that every laboratory faces the same circumstances. Rather, it means that wherever we are, we share the same commitment to quality and patient safety.”
Ms. Luella A. Vertucio, RMT
Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET)
“Excellence is not achieved in isolation. It is built through unity, continuous shared responsibility, and our collective commitment to one standard of quality.”
Maria Isabelle “Beng” Climaco
City Government of Zamboanga
“Through better systems, shared standards, and closer cooperation among our health institutions, we can strengthen our diagnostic capabilities and provide reliable services right here at home.”
Dr. Lenny Joy Johnson-Rivera, MDM, CESO IV
Department of Health - Center for Health Development IX
“As the unseen heroes of our healthcare system, you ensure that critical clinical decisions are anchored in precision, scientific rigor, and unwavering quality. This summit is a vital step towards harmonizing laboratory practices across the region.”
Dr. Afdal B. Kunting, MD, MPH, FPCP
Zamboanga City Medical Center
“Behind every specimen, every laboratory result, and every quality improvement initiative is a patient whose care depends on our competence, integrity, and commitment to excellence.”
Arlene A. Danda, Ed.D.
PAMET - Zamboanga City Chapter
“Through excellence, we strengthen our competence; through safety, we protect our communities; and through innovation, we embrace practices that make laboratory medicine truly patient-centered.”
Dr. Al-Zamzam A. Abubakar, FPSP
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Zamboanga City Medical Center
“We standardize procedures because every patient deserves dependable care, wherever they are tested. Meaningful improvement often begins with one small change, consistently applied.”
Dr. Maria Cynthia Herrera, FPSP
Philippine Society of Pathologists - Western Mindanao Chapter
“Your goal to establish one standard and one quality by harmonizing laboratory practices across Western Mindanao can only be achieved through cooperation, collaboration, and a unified approach.”
Dr. Christian Roy Q. Sarmiento, MD
Western Mindanao Regional Health Laboratory Network
“We believe that geography should never determine access to knowledge. Strengthening our laboratories means strengthening our healthcare system.”
Distinguished Speakers
Meet Our Speakers
Renowned pathologists, medical technologists, legal experts, and laboratory directors leading the discussions at WesMin Lab Summit 2026.
Dr. Lenny Joy Johnson-Rivera, MDM, CESO IV
Officer-in-Charge, Director IV, Department of Health–Zamboanga Peninsula Center for Health Development (CHD IX)
Importance and Role of Laboratory in the Health Care System
Atty. Timothy E. Galvez, RN, MPA
Licensing Officer V, Chief, Regulation, Licensing & Enforcement Division-IX, DOH-CHD IX
Updates on DOH Administrative Orders, Licensing Requirements, and Regulatory Compliance for Clinical Laboratories
Dir. Oliver Shane R. Dumaoal, RMT, MSMT, CBO, IFBA PC
Vice President, BioRisk Association of the Philippines | Director, School of Health Sciences & Assistant Professor, UST General Santos
Ensuring Integrity: Optimal Techniques for Packing and Sending Laboratory Samples
Dr. Randell S. Arias, DPSP
Medical Specialist III, Zamboanga City Medical Center | Head of Laboratory, West Metro Medical Center
Pre-Analytical Errors: The Most Common Yet Preventable Threat to Patient Safety
Mr. Manuel C. Jamoralin Jr., RMT
Senior Science Research Specialist, ARSP – Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM)
Microbiology Insights: Benefits and Basic Requirements for Establishing a Bacteriology Laboratory
Mr. Francis Paulo C. Roble, RN
HIV/AIDS Core Team Nurse, Zamboanga City Medical Center
Navigating the Next Steps: Effective Referral Practices for HIV Screening Tests Based on the RHIVDA Guidelines
Ms. Adoracion H. Sevilleja, RMT
Officer-in-Charge, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (DPLM) Chief Medical Technologist, National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI)
Lifeblood Logistics: Setting Up and Upholding Best Practices in Blood Banking
Mr. Rommel F. Saceda, RMT
Department Manager, Institute of Pathology, St. Luke’s Medical Center – QC
Streamlining Success: The Crucial Role of Laboratory Information System in Modern Labs
Dr. Valerie Anne T. Tesoro, FPSP
Acting Chairperson, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) & Head of NKTI-NRL
Building a High-Reliability Laboratory: Practical Quality Management Systems for Daily Operations
Dr. Al-Zamzam A. Abubakar, FPSP
Chairman, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Zamboanga City Medical Center
Modern Hematology Laboratory Practice: Quality Assurance, Automation, and Troubleshooting
Dr. Ronell L. Basa, DPSP
Active Consultant II, VRP Medical Center | Visiting Consultant, Lung Center of the Philippines
Clinical Chemistry Quality Assurance: A Practical Guide to the LCP National External Quality Assessment Scheme for Clinical Chemistry (NEQAS-CC)
Ms. Rheneleen Grace G. Fong, RMT
Section Chief, Histopathology Section, National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI)
Building Excellence: Strategies for Establishing a Histopathology Laboratory
Dr. Abdul Javar D. Esturco
Head, Safety and Environment Unit, Zamboanga City Medical Center
From Risk to Readiness: Strengthening Safety in the Laboratory
WesMin Lab Summit 2026
Programme
Official flow of activities, keynote addresses, and accredited scientific sessions.
Day 1
October 1, 2026
REGISTRATION
OPENING PROGRAM
Click or press to reveal program flow
BREAK
SCIENTIFIC SESSION — AM SESSION
Updates on DOH Administrative Orders, Licensing Requirements, and Regulatory Compliance for Clinical Laboratories
Licensing Officer V, RLED-9
Ensuring Integrity: Optimal Techniques for Packing and Sending Laboratory Samples
Vice President, BioRisk Association of the Philippines
OPEN FORUM / Q&A
LUNCH AND SPONSORED LECTURE #1
“Small World. Big Impact”
ICE BREAKER
SCIENTIFIC SESSION — PM SESSION
Pre-Analytical Errors: The Most Common Yet Preventable Threat to Patient Safety
MS III, ZCMC
Microbiology Insights: Benefits and Basic Requirements for Establishing a Bacteriology Laboratory
Senior Science Research Specialist, ARSP - RITM
Navigating the Next Steps: Effective Referral Practices for HIV Screening Tests based on the RHIVDA Guidelines
HACT Nurse, ZCMC
OPEN FORUM / Q&A
SPONSORED LECTURE #2
“Solving Laboratory Extremes in Hematology.... Using Mindray Bc-7800”
FELLOWSHIP NIGHT
“No lectures. No quizzes. No panic values. Just music, good food, great company, and exciting prizes.”
Program Flow
Partners & Sponsors
Thank You to Our Partners & Suppliers
This summit is made possible through the dedicated support of our partner institutions, medical societies, and industry suppliers who share our commitment to laboratory excellence.
Institutional & Society Partners
Partner Suppliers
Honoring our corporate partners and diagnostic suppliers whose valuable support powers the WesMin Lab Summit 2026.
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Location
Venue
Join us at the prestigious Royce Convention Hall in the heart of Zamboanga City.
Royce Convention Hall
Grand Astoria Hotel — Valderosa St, Zamboanga City, Philippines